[HTML1] According to Sigmund Freud, “anatomy is destiny” when it comes to the gender differences between women and men. That’s certainly true about a woman’s reproductive system where everything is functioning normally. But in this Body Language edition of Life Love & Health, co-hosts Christopher Springmann and Dr. Teresa Knight also look at some life-threatening abnormalities, and how one woman chose to deal with them.
Margaret Zavich is a breast cancer survivor who took courageous measures to prevent cancer from returning and spreading. Her choice to have a preemptive bilateral mastectomy, hysterectomy and oophorectomy was a highly informed decision based on learning her family medical history, then seeking a crucial genetic test to build on that information. What Meg learned drove the choices that may have saved her life, and she generously shares what she learned about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome and the BRCA1 & 2 genes.
Then, moving on to a subject no less important (but far less dire!), our hosts discuss menarche, or “first time” menstruation, one of the most predictable milestones in a girl’s development. This can sometimes be stressful, but with effective communications between parent and child, it doesn’t have to be. Health literacy begins at home, and Ob/Gyn Dr. Teresa Knight offers suggestions to parents for approaching this all-important discussion, such as bringing in an Ob/Gyn to facilitate the conversation for adults uncomfortable or unsure with the task.
More about Margaret Zavich
When St. Louis resident Meg Zavich was 29, she went to her physician for a mammogram because of a strong family history of breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease and underwent a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. In 2003, after trying for five years to start a family with her husband, she opted for genetic testing before moving forward with fertility treatments. At age 36, she learned about a mutation of her BRCA2 gene and opted for a bilateral mastectomy, hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Meg now encourages genetic testing for all women as a member of the BRAC (Be Ready Against Cancer) Pack. These women are advocates for BRACAnalysis, a lab test that looks for mutations on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
More about Teresa Knight
Ob/Gyn Dr. Teresa Knight, MD, FACOG is a board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Born and raised in Northern California, Dr. Knight completed her undergraduate education at U.C. Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology with a minor in Women’s Studies. While attending college she received recognition for her contribution to the development of a traveling health clinic for the homeless and for perinatal services for homeless women. Dr Knight earned a Master’s degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Saint Louis University where she also attended Medical School. She completed her residency at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis. Dr Knight currently is a practicing OB/GYN as well as a scientific adviser for PEAK Surgical, a national speaker for Myriad Genetics, and a board member for the National Association of Medical Communicators. She is a frequent lecturer and often lectures to resident and attending physicians as a medical science liaison. She is passionate about women’s health and is interested in participating in all aspects of women’s health care.
More about HBOC
HBOC stands for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. People with HBOC have up to 50% risk of breast cancer by age 50 and up to 44% risk of ovarian cancer by age 70. If you have an increased risk, you can take measures to prevent cancer from occurring, or be sure to detect it early. Many are unaware of their inherited risk, though they may be aware of a cancer history in their family. Consider talking with a doctor about HBOC if at least one of the following applies to you:
- Breast cancer before age 50
- Two or more relatives who’ve had breast cancer
- A male relative who’s had breast cancer
- Breast cancer in both breasts or twice in the same breast
- Breast cancer and Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) ancestry
- Ovarian cancer at any age
For more information, visit InheritedRisk.com.
© 2009 by On the Path Productions, LLC. All rights reserved.
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